County revs up for races

The Paper photo by Frank Phillips. Riders wait to get on the track during practice Friday afternoon.

Friday couldn't have been a nicer day to go racing. Or, watch it at the track.

That's what many Montgomery County people did Friday. Some of them were on the clock as they watched the motorcycles, the people and waited on folks.

Andy Campbell and Rich Maxwell were doing their duty manning a food tent for the Darlington Conservation Club. The club found the Ironman to be a solid fundraiser and now, the Pro Motocross race is a good money maker as well.

Maxwell said the club will clear $7,000 to $8,000 in a few days' time at the track.

"We've been doing the Ironman for six or seven years now," Campbell said. "We came in May for the inaugural (amateur motocross) event."

The club offers a full breakfast at 6 a.m. with prime rib, barbecue, coneys and other sandwiches for lunch and supper.

Campbell said the club will be back for the pro event next year, "if Tom lets us."

They expressed appreciation to Tom Shaver family for hosting the event.

Across the way, but also near the track, sets the Wabash College 1832 Brew Espresso Bar.

Byron Lehr was on duty Friday afternoon. He said business had slowed quite a bit from Friday morning. With temperatures dipping into the 40s, lots of people sought him out for hot coffee. You can also get fruit smoothies, frozen lemonade and other drinks.

Jack Irvin of Wingate was busy manning his giant charcoal grill. The Irvins call their business, Country Lane Concessions.

When we stopped by, business wasn't exactly booming, but that didn't seem to bother Irvin too much.

"We're using today to get the bugs out," Irvin said.

Like the other vendors, Irvin fully expected Saturday to be hectic as the crowds arrived in full force for the pro event.

One of the non-profit organizations hoping to make money to share with others this weekend is the Wabash Avenue Presbyterian Church.

"We're going to dig a big hole out in the track and baptize all the riders as they come by," joked the pastor, the Rev. John Van Nuys.

Actually, they are selling snacks to fund several groups including the FISH Food Pantry, the Family Crisis Shelter and other local organizations that help people in the community.

Law enforcement is not expecting many problems this weekend, other than, perhaps traffic issues.

While 55 people were arrested by excise police and the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department during the Ironman event in Crawfordsville last October, on Thursday night, everything was pretty quiet except for one fender bender, according to police reports.

Carrie Bray is a hospital nurse by day but Thursday she was sitting in a STAR ambulance, waiting and watching in case she was needed.

"That man with the yellow flag passed out on the track," she said, indicating an older man standing on the infield of the track, waving a caution flag. "We took him to first aid and he revived and now he's back out there."